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The Michigan Daily | michigandaily.com | October 23, 2017

The new reality

A loss to Penn State has 

forced Michigan to accept 

that the College Football 

Playoff is out of reach, 

as is a conference title. » 

SportsMonday Column, Page 

2B

Heisman worthy

Saquon Barkley has been 
a star all year, but his 
performance against 
Michigan could go down to 
as his Heisman moment.
» Page 3B

Saquon Barkley took the 

direct snap, cut away from the 
teeth of the defense and ran off 
into the night.

All week, Michigan’s vaunted 

defense was billed as a potential 
roadblock for one of the nation’s 
most electric players. 

Barkley stomped all over that 

notion on the second play from 
scrimmage.

On a play where he and 

Penn State quarterback Trace 
McSorley swapped spots in 
the backfield, Barkley made it 
clear the Wolverines wouldn’t 
dictate 
the 
terms 
Saturday 

night. He ran it right at them — 
and then blew right past them 
for a tone-setting touchdown in 
the Nittany Lions’ 42-13 win in 
Happy Valley. The loss dashed 

any realistic Big Ten title hopes 
for Michigan and closed the 
curtain on any pretense that 
2017 wouldn’t be a rebuilding 
year.

“They made the big plays,” 

said Wolverines’ quarterback 
John O’Korn, “and we didn’t.”

Michigan’s 
top-ranked 

defense 
entered 
Saturday 

having shut down any and 
all comers. But none of those 
teams had McSorley or Barkley. 

Before 
Saturday, 
the 

Wolverines allowed an average 
of 85.8 rushing yards per game. 
It took Barkley three carries to 
eclipse that. 

Michigan entered the game 

with 
the 
nation’s 
second-

ranked 
passing 
defense. 

McSorley threw for 282 yards 
and one touchdown, while also 
rushing for 76 yards and three 
more scores.

The two were dangerous on 

their own. McSorley hit tight 
windows all night, exposing 
Michigan’s secondary for the 
first time all year. Barkley 
was 
simply 
unstoppable, 

averaging over seven yards per 
carry while leaving defenders 
grasping at air.

The 
Wolverines 
had 
no 

answer when the two worked 
in 
tandem, 
either. 
On 
the 

second drive, McSorley drew a 
defender in before pitching the 
ball to Barkley, who waltzed 
in for a score. Later, in the 
third quarter, McSorley saw a 
linebacker isolated in coverage 
and lofted a ball down the 
sideline into Barkley’s hands 
for a 42-yard touchdown.

“I 
thought 
their 
offense 

played extremely well — (that’s 
an) 
understatement,” 
said 

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. 
“They were hitting on all 
cylinders. Their back (Barkley) 

is really good, as advertised, 
and the quarterback, McSorley, 
played 
extremely 
well. 

Quarterback 
was 
hot 
and 

receivers made plays downfield. 
It was impressive.”

There was a slight glimmer 

of hope in the second quarter, 
when sophomore cornerback 
David 
Long 
intercepted 
an 

errant McSorley pass. Michigan 
drove down the field, capping 
off an impressive 59-yard drive 
with a one-yard touchdown 
from 
running 
back 
Karan 

Higdon on 4th-and-goal.

Two 
possessions 
later, 

running back Ty Isaac followed 
his blockers into the endzone, 
cutting Penn State’s lead to one 
point and temporarily quieting 
the home crowd.

The 
Wolverines 
wouldn’t 

score again.

Led by McSorley, Penn State 

put together an impressive 

response. A well-placed throw 
to DaeSean Hamilton picked up 
36 yards. A back-shoulder fade 
to Gesicki gained 17. And then 
McSorley kept it himself and 
ran in unscathed for a three-
yard touchdown that stretched 
the lead back to eight entering 
halftime.

As the Nittany Lions picked 

up steam, Michigan’s offense 
ran out of gas. Dropped passes, 
missed blocking assignments 
and 
poorly-timed 
penalties 

ended several promising drives.

McSorley continued dealing, 

Penn State’s defense clamped 
down and the rout was on.

After the game, O’Korn drew 

a comparison. Last fall, it was 
the Nittany Lions who were left 
reeling after a blowout loss at the 
hands of the Wolverines. 

That Penn State team would 

go on to win the Big Ten. This 
Michigan team, O’Korn argued, 

could do the same.

But with two devastating losses 

in conference play already, it’s 
difficult to envision a scenario 
where 
the 
Wolverines 
still 

accomplish their preseason goals. 

Contenders 
don’t 
usually 

get third chances after they’ve 
already been knocked out twice. 
Michigan’s season was irreparably 
damaged by its loss Saturday 
night, and based on cornerback 
Lavert Hill’s glum reaction, it’s 
safe to say many Wolverines 
already understand that.

When asked what he had left to 

play for, Hill didn’t mention a Big 
Ten Championship or the College 
Football Playoff. 

He and his teammates have 

nothing left to play out but 
the string — and that’s a cold, 
unfamiliar 
reality 
that 
the 

Wolverines will have to learn 
how to deal with for the rest of 
the year.

ORION SANG

Daily Sports Editor

Penn State deals Michigan knockout blow in 42-13 rout

Saquon Barkley and Trace McSorley proved too much for the Wolverines’ top-ranked defense to handle Saturday.

MICHIGAN 13
PENN STATE 42

AMELIA CACCHIONE/ZOEY HOLMSTROM/DAILY

 
BARK

